In 1862 a group of German Unionists were gunned down at the Massacre on the Nueces. Today a monument to their murder and the Union sits in a Hill Country Town. Thanks to the following resources: The Texas State History Handbook Online: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/nueces-battle-of-the The New York Times https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/11/massacre-on-the-nueces/?_r=1 Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treue_der_Union_Monument Texas Public Radio: https://www.tpr.org/post/treue-der-union-monument-represents-incredible-cost-comfort
Ms. Pearl the Giant Squirrel and the Pecan Pie Vending Machine
Off Highway 71 near Austin is not only a pecan pie vending machine that dispenses pies 24 hours, but a 14-foot squirrel guiding the way. Resources: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/pecan-pie-vending-machine https://berdollsquirrel.com/
Giant Heads and Mount Rush Hour- David Adickes
Driving through Texas, you might get a peak at a few giant heads and a Mini Mount Rushmore built for Houston traffic. Resources: https://thetexasbucketlist.com/2020/02/the-texas-bucket-list-david-adickes-art-studio-in-houston/ https://kwhi.com/no-suspects-in-graffiti-spraying-of-stephen-f-austin-statue-in-bellville-statue-cleaned-by-local-students/ https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/48713 https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/17589 https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/david-adickes-sculpture-gallery
Attempted Murder- The Treaty Oak Edition
In 1989 one of Austin’s landmarks was almost murdered by a resident. The why and how is mindboggling. https://open.spotify.com/episode/0lHSgpKfU0FbCwPlCvUKNW?si=cTdQy9cOSYCDgTMQsuNKQA Resources: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/austin-treaty-oak-poisoning-crime-files/269-871f0c0a-3f0b-4105-92ad-a53429d2a065 https://austin.culturemap.com/news/city-life/10-06-17-history-treaty-oak-tree-downtown-austin/ https://www.statesman.com/news/20161012/25-years-later-intrigue-of-poisoned-treaty-oak-remains
The Satan Storm
On June 15th, 1960 the town of Kopperl, Texas was hit with scorching temperatures in what became known locally as The Satan Storm. Resources: https://us105fm.com/satans-storm-struck-central-texas-56-years-ago-today/ https://historydaily.org/four-unusually-dramatic-disasters-of-the-past https://www.wideopencountry.com/5-of-the-strangest-weather-events-in-the-history-of-the-south
The Creation of the Frozen Margarita
Mariano Martinez of Dallas needed his popular margaritas to stay consistent. His invention lead to a Mexican restaurant classic- the frozen Margarita. Resources: https://www.laharanch.com/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/uniquely-texas-origins-frozen-margarita-180969339/ https://www.visitdallas.com/things-to-do/dallas-now/2017/07/the-history-of-the-frozen-margarita-begins-in-dallas.htm https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/2010/05/frozen-margarita-machine-cinco-de-mayo.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariano_Martinez_(entrepreneur)
That Time Japan Unsuccessfully Bombed Texas
In 1945, two communities in Texas found giant balloons in their fields. Though it was mostly covered up by the US, it turned out it was a failed attempt by the Japanese to cause serious damage from a distance. Resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fu-Go_balloon_bomb https://www.click2houston.com/weather/2019/11/18/balloon-bombs-over-texas-it-happened/ https://texasalmanac.com/topics/history/bombing-texas https://tmd.texas.gov/the-long-proud-history-of-the-texas-state-guard-balloon-bombs-in-wwii https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/8573 http://www.texasescapes.com/ClayCoppedge/Bombing-of-Desdemona.htm
The Life Size Wax Last Supper of Ft. Worth
The Christian Art Museum of Fort Worth today houses a giant model of the last supper behind a velvet rope. However, how it got to be there is a funny story. Resources: https://www.roadsideamerica.com/blog/ft-worth-last-supper-wax/ https://www.thedailymeal.com/entertain/texas-weird-facts-gallery/slide-17 https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g55857-d4367946-Reviews-Christian_Art_Museum_of_Ft_Worth-Fort_Worth_Texas.html https://www.facebook.com/ChristianArtsMuseumFW/
The Grave of the Chicken Fried Steak, Houston
At the Taste of Texas Restaurant in Houston, there is one item that is permanently off the menu; and, there’s the grave to prove it. Resources: https://www.tasteoftexas.com/ https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/61612#:~:text=Houston%2C%20Texas%3A%20Grave%20of%20Chicken,menu%20item’s%20final%20resting%20place. https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/lgc01 https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/07/12/rip-chicken-fried-steak-heres-where-to-find-this-unusual-tombstone-and-14-other-bizarre-houston-area-attractions/
Ding Dong, Texas
In Central Texas, the name of Ding Dong, Texas really stands out, even if the town itself doesn’t. Resources: https://texashillcountry.com/ding-dong-texas-humor/ http://www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsNorth/DingDongTexas/DingDongTexas.htm
